Flanged inner ring for wheel hub bearings

Abstract

A flanged inner ring for wheel hub bearings, the inner ring comprising a tubular body supporting the bearing, the body being coaxial with an axis (A), and a flange, which is transversal to the axis (A), the flange being provided with a plurality of threaded through holes that are distributed around the axis (A) and includes: —an outer annular mounting surface and an inner surface that is axially faced towards an outer ring of the bearing; the flange having a respective base axial thickness (SAF) and comprising for each threaded through hole, a respective radial arm which is arranged on the inner surface of the flange facing the outer ring; the inner ring being forged in one piece together with the flange and the radial arms. Between each pair of adjacent arms there is a flower-shaped sector with a chamfer made by forging along the outer surface thereof.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A flanged inner ring for a wheel hub bearing, the flanged inner ring comprising:
 a tubular body configured to support the wheel hub bearing, the tubular body being coaxial with an axis (A); 
 a flange disposed on the tubular body and which is transversal to the axis (A), the flange being provided with a plurality of threaded through holes that are distributed around the axis (A); 
 the flange having a plurality of radial arms, each of the plurality of radial arms being separated from an adjacent one of the plurality of radial arms by an arcuate section, the arcuate section being concave when viewed in a plane defined by the flange and having a smaller radius from the adjacent ones of the plurality of radial arms; 
 an outer annular mounting surface; and 
 an inner surface that is configured to axially face towards an outer ring of the bearing, the flange having a respective base axial thickness (SAF), the flanged inner ring being forged in one piece together with the flange and the radial arms, each of the plurality of threaded through holes being located within an area defined by a rib having a rib base and opposing rib sides which form a U-shape, the rib being located on the inner surface of the flange and configured to project toward the outer ring, wherein the opposing rib sides each have a taper formed by a reduced thickness, as measured in a direction perpendicular to the axis (A) and parallel to the rib base, located on an end opposite of the rib base; and 
 a forged chamfer is located on the arcuate section. 
 
     
     
       2. The flanged inner ring according to  claim 1 , wherein the respective base axial thickness (SAF) is greater than 7 mm and therefore suitable to be used for the forging process. 
     
     
       3. The flanged inner ring according to  claim 1 , wherein the respective base axial thickness (SAF) is greater than 7.7 mm and therefore suitable to be used for the forging process. 
     
     
       4. The flanged inner ring according to  claim 3 , wherein a length (S) of the forged chamfer is substantially equal to 2 mm. 
     
     
       5. The flanged inner ring according to  claim 4 , wherein a magnitude of an angle (α) of the forged chamfer is substantially equal to 30°. 
     
     
       6. The flanged inner ring according to  claim 5 , wherein a length of a fillet radius (R) is substantially equal to 2 mm. 
     
     
       7. The flanged inner ring according to  claim 1 , wherein a length (S) of the forged chamfer is in a range that is between 1.5 mm and 2.5 mm. 
     
     
       8. The flanged inner ring according to  claim 1 , wherein an amplitude of an angle (α) of the forged chamfer is in a range that is between 25° and 35°. 
     
     
       9. A wheel hub bearing, comprising the flanged inner ring of  claim 1 , wherein the flanged inner ring is combined with an outer ring, which is coaxial to an axis (A), and together forming the wheel hub bearing.